Sound-wave-transmitting device



F. L. SHELOR. SOUND WAVE TRANSMITTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED mac. 9, 1921.

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nmnme mQMMH Patented Nov. 28 1922.

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siren srares FREDERICK L. SHELOR, OF PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA.

vsoUnn-wiwn-rnnnslvrrrrme DEVICE.

Application fi1ed"1)ecember 9,1921. Serial 110,621,185.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK L. SHELOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Petersburg, in the county of Dinwiddie and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in. Soundave- Transmitting Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

The present invention relatesto sound'reproducers and other sound wave transmit ting devices, and aims to provide a novel and improved vibratory means for devices of that kind which will efficiently and accurately transmit the sound vibrations from a stylus or needle engaging aphonographic record to the diaphragm or soun'd producing means, or the like.

Another object is the provision of a novel connection between the stylus or needle and the sound box or shell of thesound repro ducer or other similar device, which will provide for the effective lateral vibration of the stylus and transmission of the vibrations, sothat the sounds are transmitted for the clear and amplified reproduction of the sounds, with a minimum scraping or grating noise due to the frictional contact of the stylus and record.

A further object is the provision of a spring arranged and used in a novel manner, to mount the, vibratory member, andto provide for the vibratory movement of said member with a desired spring tension,and, at the same time, providing a substantial and practical construction which can be manufactured with uniform results, as well as being capable of withstanding more or less wear and tear by improper handling.

It is also an object of the invention to provide such a device which is simple in construction and manufacture, as well as being practical and efficacious in use, and also providing for adjustments to regulate the resilient action of the vibrating member when modified sounds or tones are wanted.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will. be apparent as the de- .scription proceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, it, being understood that changes can be made within the scope of what is claimed without-departmg from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated intheaccompanying drawing, wherein Figure l is an elevation of a sound reproducer including the improvements.

Fig. 2 is a median section thereof take on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan "view of the vibratory device.

Fig. a is a section on the line 4- 4 of Fig. 3. I

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the base member.

Fig. 6 is a cross-section onthe line 66 of Fig 1. I

As shown, the shell or casing of the sound reproducer comprises a resonant dome or bell l0, constituting one part or se'cti'on of the shell, and a disk '11 threaded within the rim of said dome, and constituting the other part or section of the shell. Said sections-of :the shell are preferably composed of hard rubber or other suitable material, and the disk 11 has a central sound outlet opening or collar 12. The diaphragm 13 has its edge clamped between the disk 11 and a shoulder 14in the rim portion of the dome 10, and rubber or other resilient washers or rings 15 are disposed at the opposite sides of the edge of the diaphragm. The disk is screwed into thev rim or mouth of the dome to clamp the diaphragm between the cushion rings 15, and a washer or ring 16 of paper or other material is disposed between the disk 11 and corresponding ring 15, to permit of'slippage between the disk and adjacent ring 15,-in order not to apply any twisting strain'to the diaphragm. The diaphragm is secured at its center to the stylus. arm or bar 17, by means of a screw 18, or the like, and said arm or bar extends through an opening 19 in the dome 10 near the shoulder or abutment 14.

The rim portion of the dome or section '10 is formed, adjacent to the opening 19, with from the abutment. The base member 22 has counter-sunk apertures 24 between the lugs 23 for receiving screws 25 which fasten the base member to the abutment. The screws are inserted through the apertures 24 and threaded into the abutment, and the headed ends of the screws seat within said apertures. The base member 22 is slotted or slit longitudinally from the ends thereof to the apertures 24L, as at 26, whereby the end portions ofthe base member are formed with-vise-like clamps, said slots dividing the lugs 23 into the pairs of jaws 27. A clamping screw 28 engages transversely through each pair of jaws behind or inwardly beyond the spring, having one terminal threaded within one jaw and the other headed end seated within the other jaw of the pair. The slots 26 enable the jaws to be sprung toward one another, by tightening the screws 28, which will not only clamp the terminals or" the spring 29 between the aws, but which will also clamp the base member on the screws A double function is thus ob tained, inasmuch as the clamps not only hold the spring 29, but also clamp the screws 25 to prevent said screws from unscrewing or loosening, it being noted that the clamps being tightened will cause the base member to pinch and embrace the headed ends of the screws also.

The spring 29 comprises a flat or straight strip of resilient metal 01 suitable quality having its terminals disposed between the jaws of the terminal clamps of the base member, with the spring in substantially the same plane as the diaphragm or nearly so. The vibratory member 30 has a broad or elongated portion 31 having a slot 32 cut therein and snugly receiving the intermediate portion of the spring 29. vThe spring is soldered or otherwise secured rigidly in the slot 32 of themember 30, with the terminals of the spring projecting beyond the ends of the portion 31. The spring and v1- bratory member are thus permanently as sembled, and the terminals of the spring are adjustably clamped between the jaws 27, providing for the adjustment of the member 30 toward or away from the center of the diaphragm, in order to enable the arm 17 to be positioned for the attachment of the inner end of the arm and central portion of the diaphragm by means of the screw 18. hen the diaphragm and arm 17 are secured together, there is no further need for the adjustment ot the member 30 radially of the diaphragm, but the portion 31 i shorter than the space between the lugs or clamps 23, whereby the member :30 can be adjusted lengthwise of the spring 28 or in an are about the center of the diaphragm, "for a limited distance.

' The member 30 is provided opposite to the base member with a socket for the stylus or needle 21, said socket being c.is-

posed opposite to the slot 32 and in substantially the same plane as said slot and spring. A set screw 34 is carried by the member 30 for clamping the stylus rigidly in the socket, whereby said memberwil vibrate transversely with the stylus.

The member 30 has transverse slot intersecting the slot 32 and located at one side of the socket 33, in which the outer end portion of the arm 17 is soldered or otherwise secured, whereby to fasten the member 30 and arm 17 rigidly together. The arm 17 is composed ofsuitable sheet metal or flat material, and the arm 17 as well as the spring'29 are both permanently united with the vibratory member.

When the member 30 vibrates or oscillates transversely, there is a minute twisting action and torsional strain on the spring 29, between the member 30 and spring clamps, permitting said member to vibrate or oscillate about an axis lying between the edges of the spring, although the vibratory member has no definite axis of vibration in the absence of a pivotal. connection betweenthe vibratory member and its mounting. Thus, only the short portions of the spring between the spring clamps and vibratory member are flexed or twisted, so as to obtain an etlicient resilient action of the vibratory member, the spring tending to hold itself and the vibratory member in a median plane. Furthermore, the weight of the sound b0): or shell is imposed byway of the spring 29 on the member 30 and stylus, in a vertical plane in which the spring is disposed. The weight is thus supported from the stylus by the spring in such a way as to reduce the surface noises owing to the frictional engagement of the stylus and record. 'llheilat strip spring thus supports the weight of the sound box or shell from the vibratory men"- ber, provides a connection between the vibratory member and base member for the oscillation of the vibratory member, and also tensions the vibratorymember in its oscillatory movement.

By loosening the clamping screws 28, the terminals of the spring 29 are loosened, and

the member 30 may be adjusted lengthwise i of the spring. Such adjustment of the vibratory member and sprii'ig enables the action of the vibratory member and spring to be regulated. When the vibratory member is intermediate the spring clamps, there are portions of equal dimensions between the vibratory member and clamps adapted to twist or flex, whereas when the vibratory member 30 is adjusted closer to one spring clamp than the other, these resilient portions of the spring are altered in length, being shorter at one spring clamp than at the other, which will modify the vibratory and resilient action of the member 30 and spring. It is thus possible to stiffen the spring ac tion by adjusting the vibratory member close against one of the spring clamps. The spring has its greatest flexibility at the opposite ends of the portion 31, when the member 30 is intermediate and spaced equally from the spring clamps, and the spring becomes stiffer, the nearer the member 30 is brought to either spring clamps. However, when the vibratory member is brought closer toward one spring clamp, the resilient portion of the spring adjacent to the other spring clamp is lengthened, which will produce a modified resilient action of the spring at the opposite ends of the portion 31 of the vibratory member. The clamping screws 28 being located above or behind the spring 29 will not interfere with the insertion or removal of said spring when the screws are loosened, without the necessity of removing saidscrews, although they extend across the slots 26.

Having thus described the invention,

what is claimed as new is 1. A sound wave transmitting device comprising a base member having lugs extend ing therefrom at an angle and slots dividing the lugs and extending into the base member beyond said lugs, a spring having its terminals disposed in said slots in the lugs, a vibratory member secured to the spring between the lugs, and means extending across said slots for clamping the springs in the lugs.

2. A sound wave transmitting device comprising a base member having lugs extending therefrom at an angle and slots dividing said lugs, a flat spring having its terminals disposed in said slots for movement to different positions andfor the convenient removal and insertion of the spring, a vibratory member mounted on the spring be tween said lugs, and means carried by the base member operable for clamping said spring in the lugs and located behind the spring so as not to interferewith the re moval and insertion of the spring when the spring is loosened, said vibratory member and spring being adjustable when said means is loosened for positioning the terminals ofthe spring in said lugs and spacing said member different distances from the lugs in order to modify the fleXure of the portions of the spring between said lugs and vibratory member.

3. A sound wave transmitting device com prising a base member having lugs extending therefrom at an angle and slotsdividing the lugs and extending into the base member beyond said lugs, vibratory means located between the lugs and extending into said slots, and means carried by the base member for clamping said means in said lugs. I

4. A sound wave transmitting device comprising an elongated base member having lugs extending at an angle therefrom at its ends and slots extending from the ends of the base member to points between the lugs and dividing said lugs, a strip spring having its terminals disposed in said slots within the lugs, means engaging said lugs for clamping the spring therein and permitting the spring to be inserted within and removed from the lugs without interference from said clamping means when said clamping means is loosened, and a vibratory member secured to the spring and located'between said lugs.

5. A sound wave transmitting device comprising a base member having clamping means, vibratorymeans held by said clamping means, and means for securing the base member to an abutment, said securing means beingarranged to be securely held in place by said clamping means when the clamping means is tightened, to prevent said securing means being loosened unless the clamping means is first loosened.

6. A sound wave transmitting device comprising a basemember, a screw for fastening the base member to an abutment, and vibratory means, the base member having means for holding said vibratory means including a clamp, and said clamp also being arranged when tightened to clamp said screw and prevent turning of said screw.

7. A sound wave transmitting device comprising a base member having an aperture for receiving a screw to fasten the base member to an abutment, the base member having means for supporting a vibratoryv means including a clamp with a slot extending to said aperture, whereby the clamp when tightened will also clamp and prevent turning of said screw.

8. A sound wave transmitting device comprising a base member having lugs at opposite ends, apertures between the lugs for the reception of screws to fasten the base member to an abutment, and slots extending from said ends to the apertures and dividing said lugs into jaws, vibratory means having portions to be disposed between and clamped by said aws, and means engaging said lugs for clamping said portions between the jaws.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

FRED L. SHELOR. 

